Cutting device



1964 v. E. LYNCH CUTTING DEVICE Filed July 51, 1962 FIG. I

FIG. 2

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,145,606 (IUTTING DEVICE Vincent E. Lynch, Huntington, N.Y., assignor to Jolyn Electronics Manufacturing Corporation, Westhury, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed July 31, 1962, Ser. No. 213,704 1 filaim. (Cl. 83-577) This invention relates to a cutting device and more particularly to a device for cutting strand articles such as yarn, filament, wire and the like.

Although the present invention is adapted for use wherever a strand article is required to be cut, it is particularly useful in knitting machines wherein it is desirous to cut strand articles, such as yarns or filaments, upon the occurrence and detection of a defect or break in the same.

It is an object of the invention to provide a cutting device that is relatively small, composed of few operating parts, requiring simple installation, and because of its simplicity, being extremely economical in comparison to presently known cutting devices.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cutting device that is positive in operation. A feature of the invention resides in the novel details of construction that permit the relative movement of cutting surfaces in such manner that they achieve the same cutting effect upon the strand as a scissor by the application of a quick and smooth cutting movement during which the strand is cleanly cut.

Other and further objects of this invention reside in the structures and arrangement hereinafter more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the cutting device constructed according to the teaching of the invention,

FIG. 2 is a cross-section of FIG. 1 taken in the direction of lines 22,

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-section of a portion of FIG. 2 taken along lines 33, and

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-section of a modified embodiment of the invention.

Referring now to the drawing, the cutting device there shown is generally identified by the numeral 10. The device comprises an electromagnetic actuator or solenoid 12 that is adapted to be energized in response to the operation of an electrical circuit in which the same is connected, but not shown. The solenoid 12 is mounted on a bracket 14- that is bent upward to form a leg 16 and is provided with a hole 18. A cutter element 20 is provided with a flange 22 that is larger in diameter than that of the hole 18 and is adapted to be secured to the leg 16 of the bracket by a plurality of any Well known securing means, such as the screws 24.

The body of the cutter element 20 is elongated axially in length and is provided with a narrowed shoulder 26 that is adapted to be snugly located in the hole 18. The opposite end of the cutter element 24 extends axially away from the bracket leg 16 so that the length of the body of the cutter element 20 is elongated. The cutter element 20 is provided with a central, axially extending guide hole or opening 28 that terminates at its right hand end in a peripheral cutting surface 3'9.

An elongated plunger member 32 is positioned within and guided for axial movement in the guide hole 'or opening 28. The plunger member 32 is longer in length than is the extent of the guide hole 28 and, therefore, extends beyond both ends of the same. The inner end of the plunger 32 is connected at 34 to form a part of an armature 36 of the electromagnetic actuator or solenoid 12. The opposite protruding end of the plunger member 32 is provided with means for retaining a strand to the plunger member during the movement of the same whereby the strand may be severed at the cutting surface 30. Such retainer means is in the form of a substantially U-shaped slot or cut out 38 that is defined at an angle transverse to the axial direction of movement of the plunger 32 and armature 36 when the same are operatively withdrawn into and toward the body of the actuator 12 upon the energization of the latter,

The retainer means 38 is defined of sutficient depth in the plunger member 32 as to provide a positive support and seat for a strand article 40 to be cut. The defining outer peripheral Wall of the retainer means 38 forms a cutting surface that is adapted to cooperate with the cutting surface 30 of the cutter element 20. During the normal operation of the cutting device 10, the strand 40 moves in the direction of the arrow 42 as shown in FIG. 1. During the normal movement of the strand 40, the same seats in the U-shaped retainer means 38 and is there retained and guided in its path of movement in the direction of the arrow. Because of defects or breaks that sometime occur in the strand 40, it becomes necessary to cut the same along its length. This cut must be accomplished quickly and smoothly in such manner that the cut effected in the strand is clean, made without leaving rough edges.

When it is desired to perform the cut in the strand, the actuator 12 is energized to withdraw into it the armature 36 and the connected plunger member 32. As the plunger moves as part of the armature 36, its axial movement is guided in the hole or opening 28 of the cutter element 20. The armature is caused to be withdrawn into the actuator 12 a distance suflicient to cause the defining cutting surface of the retainer means 38 to withdraw completely within and interiorly beyond the cooperating cutting surface 30 of the cutter element 20. This movement functions in the manner of a quick operating scissor trapping the portion of the strand 40 in the retainer means 38 between the cutting surface of such retainer means and that of the cutting surface 30 thereby completely cutting the strand as the two surfaces move relative to each other.

The bracket 14 connects the actuator 12 and the cutting element 20 in their predetermined relationship as illustrated in the drawing in order to positively guide the movement of the armature and its associated plunger member 32. The cutting effect created at the cutting surface 30 and the defining cutting surface about the wall of the retainer means 38 is accomplished very rapidly. However, the operation is a rapid but progressive cutting of the strand as the two cutting surfaces move relative to each other.

In actual practice, the cutting device 10 may be employed in any well known apparatus wherein it is necessary to cut strand articles. Applicant has found the present invention to be particularly adapted for use in knitting machines wherein a plurality of strand articles 40 are arranged in side by side relationship. When the present invention is utilized in such a knitting machine, a plurality of retainer means 38 similar to that shown in FIG. 4 of the drawing may be provided. Each one of the retainer means 38 may seat and support at least one of the strands 40. When a plurality of retainer means 38 is provided, they may be arranged in axially spaced relationship along the length of the plunger member 32 in the manner as shown in FIG. 4. In such case, it will be necessary to provide that the actuator 12 move the armature 36 a greater distance to insure that the defining cutting surfaces of each of the retainer means 38 cooperate with the cutting surface 30 to sever the strands 40 seated therein.

It has been found in the practice of the present invention that instead of connecting the plunger member 32 to the armature 36 at 34- so as to provide that the same is an integral part of the armature, the member 32 may be made stationary and the cutter element it} made movable. The operation of the device is then slightly reversed from that disclosed with respect to the devices shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. In such case, the cutter element 2t) is connected at 34 to the armature 36 so that the same is caused to move axially and guided along the length of the now stationary member 32. It has been found that if the cutting surface 39 and the defining cutting surface of the retainer means 38 are moved relative to each other, the strand retained therebetween will be quickly and smoothly severed. Hence, it is within the contemplation of the invention that the member 32 may be held stationary while the cutter element 20 may be connected for movement with the armature 36, to move its cutting surface 30 into progressive cooperative cutdng engagement with the defining cutting surface or surfaces of the retainer means 38 included in the member 32. FIG. 3 illustrates the actual cutting operation as it is performed during the relative movement of the cutting surfaces of the cutting element 20 and member 32.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to several preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices illustrated and in their operations'may be made by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claim appended hereto.

I claim:

A device for cutting a strand of flimsy material during .4 the movement thereof comprising a member movable axially in a direction transverse to that of the moving strand, a recessed substantially U-shaped seat defined in and on a side of said movable member intermediate the axial ends thereof, said U-shaped seat being perpendicular to the axis of said movable member and positioned in a direction transverse to the axial direction of movement of said member in alignment with the direction of movement of the strand to receive and engage the strand therein and to move the same axially with said movable member, the outer side walls of said seat defining spaced cutting surfaces between which a portion of the strand is adapted to be cut from the remainder of the moving strand, and a cutter member having a cutting surface positioned perpendicular to the axis of movement of said movable member to progressively cooperate with each of the spaced cutting surfaces to engage the moving strand therebetween and to out said portion of the moving strand located in said seat when said movable member is moved axially to move said cutting surfaces of said seat progressively into cooperation with said cutting surface of said cutter member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 460,903 Woodward 'Oct. 6, 1891 2,041,386 Van Laanen May 19, 1936 2,742,697 Gross Apr. 24, 1956 2,763,926 Pate Sept. 25, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 705,398 France June 5, 1931 117,473 Switzerland Oct. 22, 1946 

